I just realized something...there is a good reason why I have the policy I have about taking commission for fursuits. Most of it is because I won't make a costume for someone if I can't be sure they'll be completely happy with it, but there is another reason, the reason why I make costumes the way I do, even for commissions: that is so that I can be an artist, not a slave.

I realized this while looking at artwork here on FA. I had been pondering the notion of commissions, especially related to the lack of progress in skills of artists. I felt there was a connection between the two, but couldn't put my finger on it.

Then it hit me. In our society, money is everything, especially these days with the rich hoarding so much of it, literally leaving not much for the rest of us to share. So everyone is pretty hooked on that almighty dollar, so they can keep their expensive habits like iPhones, computers, game systems, etc. And they take commissions right and left to pay those bills. And given the general lack of mental initiative in this world these days, people who commission artists never challenge an artist, that would be too risky. No, people these days want to remain comfortable, not take any chances. So they commission the artist to do what the artist has already done. The artist becomes a slave to the commissioners, and fails to progress in his or her skills because there are no challenges.


That is why I do commissions they way I do; because I want to develop my skills. I never guarantee how a costume will look. If I were to do that, I would be an engineer (and I'll certainly do those once in a while, for a premium). I prefer to develop my artistic skills. If I were to waste my time making something that I've already made before, I would not improve my skills, and thus I would not be able to charge more for subsequent costumes. So being a slave to commissions isn't just a bad idea, its a bad financial decision as well...